KEY POINTS

Clubs Australia is ending a campaign against tougher restrictions on poker machines.

It is asking its members across the country to withdraw beer coasters, posters and other material.

In a memo issued yesterday, the lobby group for the clubs industry welcomed the federal government’s deferral of measures addressing problem gambling.

A trial of self-setting betting limits, known as mandatory precommitment, will start in the Australian Capital Territory in February.

“While we remain on alert, watching the progress of the federal government’s legislative agenda and political manoeuvrings, it is time to remove campaign material from our clubs and surrounds,” Clubs Australia said in the memo to members.

Senator Nick Xenophon said the industry was retreating because its expensive print, television and radio campaign was subject to ridicule.

“I think they have gone from a hysterical overreaction to premature exaltation in just the course of a few months,” Senator Xenophon said.

“I am quite happy for them to be lulled into their false sense of security . . . hubris is a dangerous thing in politics.”

Clubs Australia spokesman Jeremy Bath said the organisation was not claiming victory.

“If it’s a win, it’s a win with two black eyes and a couple of broken bones,” he said.

Clubs were taking Prime Minister Julia Gillard at her word that whatever the government did in tackling problem gambling would be “evidence-based”, he said.

“That is what we always wanted,” Mr Bath said.

A total of $3.5 million was spent on television, radio and newspaper ads, as well as billboards in major cities attacking the introduction of the technology for poker machines.

Labor seats were targeted in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, with clubs claiming the technology would cut into revenue, affect jobs and hurt the thousands of community groups they funded.

Ms Gillard reneged on her written agreement with independent MP Andrew Wilkie to introduce the technology and has now come up with an alternative policy, including a technology trial and more funding for counselling and education.

Mr Bath said the key moment came late last year when opinion polls showed a dive in support for the plan.